Mystical Ninja starring Goemon

"So: just another strange Japanese-style platformer? No. This is far better."

I wasn't too excited when I saw this game. But, it was on special, so why not buy it?
I did, and I couldn't have made a better decision. Mystical Ninja is a platformer/RPG which is hilariously fun. It is one of the only games I have played that captures the idea of 'humour' so well.
The story is that there has been a spaceship fly over Japan. There is a lot of confusion over this and-when you progress a little further- you learn that the people flying the spaceship are called the Peach Mountain Shoguns, and they want to turn Japan into a dancing stage!
Naturally, you have to stop them. Starting off, you have access only to Goemon (the main character of the game, who enjoys a good adventure) and Ebisumuru (a strange, and fairly large character with a weird sense of humour). As you progress through the game, you will find Sasuke (a ninja robot) and Yae (a girl who is good at fighting!) who will be willing to join your quest.
The graphics in this game are very respectable. The only problem here is the slightly annoying camera. The boss scenes are absolutely fantastic, espescially when you get to fight in the enormous robot called Impact!
I like the sound as well. It does have that Japanese touch (which is to be expected, really) but it really does suit this game superbly. All of the characters give a war-cry (of sorts) when they brandish their weapons, too.
The controlling is well presented, mostly in the familiar Mario style (A is jump, B attack) but it does use the C-buttons for different things. Using the bottom-C button to change characters on the spot is great, and in my opinion preferable to having to find special change-character portals.
But finally, will this game last? The answer, thankfully, is yes. And while this is a very big game, it's still not as big as Mario/Donkey Kong 64. The thing to realise though is that this game is presented in a very different style to those two games. There is a lot more talking and searching for items in Mystical Ninja.
Mystical Ninja, then. Is is the best game ever? No. But is it an enjoyable game, that will have you playing for quite some time as you revel in the wondrous world it encloses? Yes. I really can't recommend this game enough, and I will end this review by saying...BUY IT. NOW.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/23/01, Updated 03/23/01